Please read as much as you can of Paul's letter to the Romans. Focusing on Chapters 1-3 and 12-15 will work well.
From the chapters you read, pick out a verse or two that you think is a particularly important part of Paul's recipe for helping Jewish and gentile believers get along with one another. Cite also a verse you find particularly puzzling and explain why you find this verse hard to understand.
Alternatively, you might take a stab at explaining the verse another student found difficult/confusing or at answering one of the study questions.
The first verse I want to mention as a potentially important part of Paul's recipe would be, "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17) This would be a good wake up call to both the Jewish and Gentile believers because it would help them to realize that it doesn't matter that they are different from each other because they share the same faith.
ReplyDeleteThe second verse I want to mention is, "Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things." (Romans 2:1) This would make them realize that they cannot judge each other since they have the same beliefs and practice the same religious rituals, thus if they judged each other, they would be judging themselves as well.
The verse I find confusing is "What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet." (Romans 7:7) I find this verse hard to understand because it's confusing to even think about, and it kind of contradicts itself. This is because although the law is not sin, it could be taken as sin due to the fact that sins would have run rampant if the law was not in place. See? Confusing!
1. Romans 1:18-20 "18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse"
ReplyDeleteThis is very important to both Jews and Gentiles In verse 20 it shows that God was always in control and the Jews were right to worship and follow him. Then it also shows that God's wrath is in for those who dont believe in him. Then for the Gentiles what is comforting to them is showing that God is with them aka Verse 19.
2. Romans 2:12-15 12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) This is intreasting as well because it shows that Jews and Gentiles are equally as guilty as sinners.- Austin Dreyer
(8:14-17) In this passage Paul remarks that “those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God” and “we are children of God.” These passages show the unity that is between Christians, through Christ they are all brothers and sisters. This idea of people from different backgrounds and traditions being all part of a family, to me is one of the greatest perks of the Christian faith. For the Jews and Gentiles at that time, this was likely an encouragement to get along with each other because when they put there differences aside, they were all family.
ReplyDelete(1:16) "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes to the Jew first and also to the Greek". I think this verse is important because Paul's making it clear that Gods salvation is for everyone who believes regardless if there background or heritage. (15:21) "Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand." I find this verse hard to understand because how are the people who've never heard about God and his teachings going to understand right away. I understand God showing himself to them, but I just can't figure out how they will understand his teachings right away.- Eathen Erck
ReplyDeleteI think for the verse that allows Paul to convince Jews and gentiles to get along I would say Romans 2: 5-11. In this passage Paul talks about how God will repay each person according to what they have done. For example if you are stubborn or storing up a wrath against others you will face the wrath of God. The opposite being persistent in doing good and seeking glory and honor than God will repay you in a good way. Paul says that there will be trouble and distress for humans who are evil first being the Jews, then the gentile. He then says that if humans bring glory, honor, and peace then there will be good for the Jews, and then the Gentiles.
ReplyDeleteI think the passage that was puzzling for me was Romans 3:11-13. IN this passage it reads that no one is righteous not even one, there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away they have together become worthless there is no one who does good not even one. This is puzzling to me because is Paul specifically talking about just Jews and Gentiles or all people. If he is just talking about Jews and Gentiles why would there be the assumption that no one does good or no one who seeks God? It seems like just a negative message to me that would not united anyone no matter what the background is. I just find it very puzzling that there would be an assumption of such that is so negative.
-Dawson Pfister
"There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality." Romans 2:9-11
ReplyDeleteThese verses are good examples of Paul's recipe of fixing the Jew and Gentile behavior toward each other--especially verse 11. No matter who you are or what you do during your life, EVERYONE will receive either tribulation and distress or glory, honor, and peace. Both the "Jews and the Greeks" will receive this. God shows no partiality, like Paul said.
I find all the passages discussing circumcision and Jews to be a little confusing (chapter 3). Should people be circumcised? Does it matter? It's a little hard to tell if Paul is saying men should be circumcised or not. In the end, I don't think it matters (hence the comments on Gentiles), but I don't really understand the importance of being circumcised if God shows no partiality.
-Lauren Bland
1. I think good way to convey the attitude you should have towards people who you don't like are in Romans 12:14-21. It's a great way to say look, just because you guys don't see eye to eye, doesn't mean you can't share or give a meal with them. It's a really simple, but effective way to remind people, that christians aren't supposed to be at each others throats.
ReplyDelete2. For what I find rather peculiar about this message is in the opening chapter. Why does Paul open with, not a fire and brimstone message, but about God's wrath. I don't really see the logic in trying to get people on the same page with each other, and telling people to be wary of God. It's personally not how I would write, but would it be specific to the Romans that Paul opens his letter this way? I've always been of the opinion, if you try to scare someone, it has the opposite effect.
-Walker Larson
A verse I think is important to Paul’s recipe for good Jewish & Gentile relations:
ReplyDeleteRomans 2:12-16
All who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but the doers of the law who will be justified. When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all.
Or Romans 3:27-31
Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
A verse I find puzzling/hard to accept:
Romans 3:19-20
Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For “no human being will be justified in his sight” by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
I personally find this to be a verse/a truth that is hard for me to accept. This is because above all I strive to be a good person whose goal at the end of my life is to be able to stand with the heavenly saints, Saints, and angels in God’s presence as He welcomes me to Heaven. I wish to hear words similar to what He spoke to Jesus at his baptism “this is my child with whom I am well pleased.” To read this verse and know that despite everything I will still not be worthy is hard to swallow, but it only makes me ever more grateful for His unending grace and mercy of forgiveness. It makes me more thankful for Jesus’ sacrifice of the cross and resurrection in beating sin and death.